Wash line drive connection



April '11, 1939. H. c. BLOCK WASH LINE DRIVE CONNECTION Filed Aug. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. HAROLD C. BLOCK.

ATTORNEYS.

April 11, 1939. Y H c BLOCK 2,153,822

WASH LINE DRIVE CONNECTION Filed Aug. '19, 1935 2 Shets-Sheet 2 I I7 I INVENTOR.

HAROLDGBLOGK ATTORNEYS.

, BY (fix tmu md fiamfim Patented Apr. 11, 1939 PATEN OFFICE WASH LINE DRIVE CONNECTION Application August 19, 1935, Serial No. 36,865

9 Claims.

The invention relates to an improvement in wash line drive connections for wells whereby the screen and packer may be set and the well washed and sealed by the manipulation of a single string of pipe.

In completing wells it is the usual practice to set the casing and to then position the screen assembly in the lower end of the casing so that a seal may be formed with the casing and the strainer positioned to filter the oil entering the well. A suitable tubing or other pipe may be thereafter positioned in the well to conduct the liquid to the surface.

It is desirable, however, to perform the setting of this screen assembly by a manipulation of a single string of pipe and to also seal off the well in one operation.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide a screen assembly which can be located and sealed against the entrance of oil below the screen and also sealed in the casing by a single operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a screen assembly which may be landed and sealed and'the well washed by the manipulation of a 25 single string of pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wash line drive connection between the setting tool and the wash line so that the wash line may be used to close the wash valve to seal the bottom of the strainer.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a wash pipe drive connection which is applied only after all of the parts of the assembly have been made up so that it is assured that the con- 35 nection did not close the valve while the packer and other parts were being applied to the liner.

Another object is to provide a removable drive connection for wash pipes which can be fitted in position to seal and drive the wash pipe.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination setting string and wash line having a slidable but non-rotatable connection which can be positioned after the entire device is assembled.

Other and further objects of the invention will be readily apparent when the following description is considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a broken detail sectional view of the slidable non-rotatable connection between the setting string and the wash line.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken on the lines 2-2, 33 and 3-4, respectively, of Fig. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of sealing or drive ring which forms the connection between setting tool and the wash line.

Fig. 6 is an elevation of the screen assembly being lowered into position in the lower end of the casing and showing certain parts broken away and in section.

Fig. 7 is a continuation of Fig. 6 showing the lower end of the liner, screen and set shoe, with the wash valve in the position in which it is lowered into the well before being closed.

In Fig. 6 the casing which is usually located in the well is indicated at 2 and the screen assembly is indicated at 3. The screen assembly is usually made up of a set shoe 4, screen 5, the liner 6, and the packer 7. These parts must all be assembled in the manner seen in Figs. 6 and 7 and in practically all instances this is done on the derrick floor so that the parts are arranged as they are lowered into the well. The assembly of these parts, insofar as it relates to the present invention, will be later described.

The setting tool 8 is then connected to the upper end of the packer l in such a manner that the wash line will extenddownwardly through the packer, liner and screen with its non-circular lower end In positioned in the non-circular socket H in the upper end of the wash valve l2. The setting tool grips the upper end of the packer l in order to suspend the screen assembly and the entire device is then lowered into the well by adding sections of pipe to the setting string l5. When the entire assembly reaches an elevation such as seen in Fig. 6 where the packer i is adjacent the lower end of thecasing 2 and with the screen 5 opposite the producing formation, the well is then ready to be washed, it being understood that while this string is being lowered into position that the casing and well bore are usually full of heavy mud which has been used in drilling the well. This mud is usually of sufficient specific gravity so that it will overcome any formation pressures in the well and prevent blowing out of the well.

Of course, this heavy mud must be washed from the well before production of oil can be 1 obtained. It is desirable to wash as much of the mud from the well as possible. The removal of the mud, however, reduces the pressure on the formation so that this is the dangerous stage of bringing in the well in order to prevent a blowout. It is desirable, therefore, to be able to quickly close the well during this operation. Prior to the time when the setting tool is released when the washing is begun water will be pumped downwardly through the setting string, through the wash line 9, the wash valve 12, and out through the set shoe 4, so that it will flow upwardly outside of the screen 5 and wash the face of the producing formation, forcing the mud upwardly through the casing 2. When the returns from the well indicate that the mud has been removed and clear water is discharging, then the screen assembly is to be landed. To accomplish this, the setting string is lowered so that the set shoe 4 engages the bottom of the well. Regardless of whether it is desired to prevent a blow-out or to merely set the screen assembly in position, the first step is to rotate the setting string l5 so as to release the setting tool 8 from its engagement with the upper end of the packer. This particular type of setting tool is disclosed in the patent to Leslie A. Layne, No. 1,870,779, granted August 9, 1932, which releases the screen assembly upon slight rotation. This rotation of course turns the wash pipe 9 and wash valve l2 some but not enough to close the valve 12. When the setting tool releases then further rotation of the string i5 rotates the wash pipe 9 to completely close the valve l2. Next the packer is set by lowering so that the coupling l6 contacts the top i! of the packer I. The packer then telescopes due to the weight of the pipe l5 so as to expand and engage the inner face l8 of the casing 2 to form a tight seal therewith.

A particular advantage of setting the packer after the closing of the valve is that if the valve cannot be closed the entire string can be readily removed. Whereas, if the packer is set there is difficulty in pulling it loose and suction or swabbing action may be created which would cause a blowout. It seems obvious that the closing of the valve can be detected by the operator by applying pressure to the wash liquid. The combination drive and seal ring prevents the escape of liquid around the top of the wash pipe while the closed valve prevents any escape from the lower end. With this construction it is possible to test the valve to be sure it is closed before the packer is set regardless of any raising or lowering of the setting string.

During this downward movement of the coupling it the wash pipe 9 will remain stationary and will slide through the driving connection 20, which is positioned in the coupling I6. The setting of the packer 7 forms a complete seal outside of the screen 5. The particular parts which operate are the setting string l5 which turns the driving connection 23 and imparts a similar rotation to the wash pipe 9. This rotation is in turn imparted to the wash valve 12, which is threaded in the set shoe at 2|. The engagement of these threads causes the wash valve l2 to travel downwardly so that the lower end 22 thereof engages the seat 23 to completely close off the lower end of the screen assembly. In some instances a back pressure valve is also provided in the set shoe in addition to the wash valve I2.

The particular construction of the wash valve forms no part of the present invention but is disclosed in the co-pending application of Albert L.

' Roco and Vernon W. Walters, Serial No. 757,285,

filed December 13, 1934 which has resulted in Patent 2,072,430, granted March 2, 1937. As distinguished from this, the combination of the wash line drive connection in combination with the screen assembly is disclosed and claimed as the present invention.

When the wash valve l2 has been properly closed it is only necessary to pick up on the setting string IS in order to lift the setting tool 8 and the wash line 9 from the well. This leaves a full open screen which is securely packed off on the outside and sealed against the entry of oil at the bottom so that a perfect filtering operation is possible with this arrangement.

The particular construction of the wash line drive connection is seen in Fig. 1 wherein the coupling I6 is threaded to the pipe 25, which is the upper end of the setting tool 8. The upper end of the coupling I6 has an enlarged threaded area 26, which receives the driving head or bushing 21. This head is in the form of a bushing which is threaded into the enlarged area 26 until it engages the shoulder 28 so that it is firmly located. The threads 26 also receive the setting pipe I5, as seen in Fig. 6.

The inside of the driving head or bushing 21 is formed with a shoulder 30, which is round and will normally permit rotation of the hexagonal wash pipe 9. Directly above the shoulder 30,

however, the driving head is formed with an area :11

3|, which may be of hexagonal or some other noncircular configuration. Directly above the area 3! are the threads 32 which receive the lock nut or gland 33. The shoulder 30 and area 3! are adapted to receive the drive ring or connection 34, which is of the same configuration as the area 3|, on the outside, and whose inner face 35 is arranged to fit snugly about the wash pipe 9 and is, of course, of the same configuration so that the wash pipe may slide through the bush- :a

ing but cannot rotate with respect thereto.

With this arrangement there is a slidable but a non-rotatable driving connection between the setting string and the wash pipe. The retaining collar 3'1 is threaded on the upper end of the 1-."

wash pipe to hold the drive bushing 34 and the gland 33 against removal.

When the assembly is arranged for shipping, the bushing 34 will be positioned on top of the gland 33 instead of in the opening 3| so that rotation of the parts is permitted. When the assembly is to be made, however, the wash pipe 9 is rotated lefthand to set the wash Valve l2 at the extreme open position and then the hexagonal ring 34 is seated on the shoulder 30 and the gland 33 screwed firmly in place. The retaining collar 3'! is then positioned and the device is lowered into the well.

The connection of the set shoe, wash valve, screen, liner, packer, setting tool, and wash pipe entails a great deal of rotation of the various parts because if a hundred or more feet of screen pipe, and then maybe several hundred feet of liner are used, the several sections must be screwed together and the wash pipe also assembled. These operations are carried on as the parts are coupled together and step by step lowered into the well.

It seems obvious that by the time the packer and setting tool are to be connected that the set shoe and wash valve may be several hundred feet down in the well and incapable of inspection to ascertain whether the wash valve is open. The wash pipe is usually assembled after the set shoe screen and liner have been coupled together and lowered into the well. The wash line is then lowered into its position in the socket l I and made of the proper length. The packer and setting tool are assembled together with the top of the wash line therein and screwed onto the top of the liner. The absence of the drive ring 34 allows the wash pipe to remain stationary during this operation.

The bushing 34 is not placed in driving position until the very last operation and it is thus impossible to have prior to that time caused any rotation of the wash pipe. This positive insurance that the valve is open is one of the features of the invention.

The slidable but non-rotatable connection operates as previously described and when the set ting tool is raised from the well the retaining collar 31 serves to support the Wash pipe on the gland 33 to lift it from the well.

In some instances caving material is in the well, enormous pressures are required to wash down around the set shoe and it is desirable to form a seal about the wash pipe9, so that there can be no leakage of fluid thereby, either into or out of the screen assembly. When such a seal is desired the ring shown in Fig. may be employed. This bushing or ring is of the same configuration as the ring 34 but comprises an upper ring 4b, a lower ring AI, and an intermediate sealing material 52, which may be rubber or any other suitable material, which can be molded in position by passing through the openings 43, a plurality of which are formed in the rings 40 and 4|. When a ring of this type is positioned on the shoulder 30, the gland 33 may be used to compress the ring to expand the resilient material 42, so that it will seal with the periphery of the wash pipe 9 and also with the face 3! of the driving head.

While the non-rotatable connection at Ill and II between the wash pipe and the wash valve has been described it seems obvious that a lefthand thread may be here provided so that suitable release may be obtained from the wash valve other than the simple slip-out connection shown.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well bottom assembly a setting tool and a wash pipe, a bushing carried by said tool and disposed about said pipe, a non-circular recess in said bushing, a non-circular surface on said wash pipe, and a noncircular ring to be placed in said recess to engage said surface whereby said wash pipe will be held by said bushing.

2. In a well bottom assembly a setting tool and a wash pipe, a bushing carried by said tool and disposed about said pipe, a non-circular recess in said bushing, a non-circular surface on said wash pipe, and a drive member to be fitted in said recess to engage said surface whereby said wash pipe will be held by said bushing, said member forming a seal with said bushing and said pipe.

3. A well bottom wherein the parts are screwed together which comprises a set shoe, wash valve,

screen, liner packer, setting tool and wash pipe in said setting tool, and a drive member to be slipped longitudinally along the wash pipe so as to be inserted between the wash pipe and drive bushing after the parts are screwed together, and interengaging portions on said wash pipe, drive bushing, and drive member so that the wash pipe will be caused to thereafter rotate with the setting tool.

4. In a well bottom assembly a wash pipe, a setting tool, a bushing to be screwed into said tool about said pipe, and a drive connection to be moved into position about said pipe and carried by said bushing after the pipe and bushing have been assembled whereby rotation may be imparted to said pipe.

5. In a well bottom assembly a wash pipe, a setting tool, a bushing to be screwed into said tool about said pipe, a drive connection to be placed about said pipe and in said bushing after the pipe and bushing have been assembled and adjusted whereby rotation may be imparted to said pipe, and a gland to hold said connection in said bushing.

6. In a combination wash line and setting tool assembly for well bottoms, a driving connection therebetween, said connection including a driving head to be screwed into said tool and a drive ring, said ring being so constructed and arranged that it may be inserted after assembly and adjustment of said tool and head.

7. In a combination wash line and setting tool assembly for well bottoms, a driving connection therebetween, said connection including a driving head to be set in said tool after assembly and a drive ring, and means on said ring forming a seal between said pipe and bushing.

8. A combination seal and drive ring for well bottoms including non-circular metal members to be positioned about the wash pipe and to be received by the pipe being set, and a resilient sealing member disposed between said members.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a well screen, a set shoe on the lower end thereof, a packer coupled to the upper end thereof, a bottom shut-off valve in said set shoe, a combined drill-stem Wash-pipe valve closing tool and packer setting tool assembly located within said packer and screen and connected to said valve, said assembly being adapted to be turned as a unit in one direction to close said valve and to be thereafter disconnected from said valve and operated to perform the function of a setting tool to set said packer, said shut-01f valve comprising skirted valve member, and a valve seat carried by said set shoe to receive said valve.

HAROLD C. BLOCK. 

